Can A Totaled Car Be Repaired

How to Repair Your Car Brakes

Last Updated March 25, 2022

Brakes are the nigh essential safety feature of any vehicle, so but prepare them yourself if you take the correct tools and enough confidence to exercise the task well. Yous can larn how to alter the brake pads and rotors yourself in no time at all. As with nigh of the actually of import parts of the machine, the design of the brakes hasn't changed much in years, which is practiced because once you larn how to supersede the brakes you lot tin apply that knowledge to all cars old and new.

How Brakes Work

The brakes operate using a simple hydraulic system that transfers the force per unit area you apply to the pedal onto the brake pads and rotors. When you push downwards on the restriction pedal, a lever pushes a piston into the primary cylinder that'southward filled with hydraulic fluid. This fluid is and then squirted along pipes which feed another cylinder positioned next to the brakes to complete an hydraulic system that multiplies the force you put into the pedal.

Knowing When to Replace the Brakes

With some cars you'll know the instant the brakes demand changing because you lot'll need to apply them earlier than normal to end for the corner but with other cars that'southward not so obvious, particularly if y'all're used to driving a truck with dissimilar loads in the back and on different road surfaces which mean you arrange your driving style to match the condition of the route and the weight of the vehicle. When the restriction pads wearable downwards, y'all'll start to hear a squeaking noise whenever you try and slow the vehicle. Thankfully some newer cars take brake pad sensors that alert the driver when the pads need replacing.

Preparation

According to home services websites, the average cost of changing pads and rotors on a typical car is $324. That varies from state to state simply you can expect to salve part of those costs if you practise the piece of work yourself. To begin the job you'll need to buy new brake pads and rotors. When you become domicile, put the machine in brake and then begin the chore by loosening the lug nuts. Now raise the jack and then residue the car on jack stands.

Replacing the Brakes

Now remove the bolts from the caliper and slide information technology out. Now remove the bolts on the rear of the hub that keeps the caliper carrier in identify. You might need to whack the rotor with a hammer to become it off. Exercise whatever it takes because y'all don't need the old rotor anyhow. Now apply a wire brush to remove rust from the hub before installing the new rotor. Then you lot replace the caliper carrier bolts and you'll exist ready to compress the caliper piston. Do this until the piston is flush with the housing of the caliper. To consummate the task, install pads in the carrier and use some grease on the exterior of the pad for smooth operating.

To Finish

Put the wheel dorsum on and tighten the lug nuts to complete the job. Although you've got new pads and rotors on the vehicle, you lot'll hear some squeaking to begin with. That'due south normal when yous've inverse the brakes. To get rid of that, drive on a highway at around 60 MPH and and then gradually decrease speed to twoscore using the brakes. Do the same from 50 to thirty MPH a few times and then only drive around and use the brakes as normal. You'll soon discover the noise get away.